Aim for muscle fitness
My friend, colleague, and neurologist Seward Rutkove has invented several new fascinating medical devices. One of these--Aim--is designed for the general marketplace (as opposed to medical clinics.) He and his partner have started an Indiegogo campaign through which you can support the introduction of this device, plus get one for yourself. What does it do?Press Aim against any major muscle to measure the fat percentage and muscle quality (MQ) for that muscle. Each measurement takes less than a second and results are immediately displayedBy measuring four muscles (biceps, triceps, abs, and thigh), you ge...
Source: Running a hospital - November 20, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Expanding our horizons as teachers
Bradley Flansbaum tells an amusing story about an international medical graduate he was mentoring and then concludes:Watching an international graduate take his first step assimilating into a new professional role, American style, opened my eyes once again to the valuable guidance we provide as teachers. I consider moments with them as prized as the interactions with my patients. What is the difference really? In both instances, you provide the knowledge and comfort the other side lacks.The learning is a two way street however, and I get as much as I receive. Over the years, I have absorbed di...
Source: Running a hospital - November 20, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Coaching as a leadership theme
Dr. Brian Wong has written a book called Heroes Need Not Apply. A number of friends have recommended it to me. I've not read it yet, but I did watch Dr. Wong's video in which he answers the question: "In your book, why does coaching become such an important leadership theme?" I found his answers thoughtful and compelling and recommend the short video to you. I'll look forward to reading the book some day. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - November 19, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Sweet to be mentioned. Thanks!
How lovely to have this blog listed as one of the "100 Important Sites for Healthcare Leaders and Executives" on the MHAPrograms.org website. They note: "Blogs, news sites and magazines in the healthcare industry often dedicate articles to covering the latest news on health leadership, promoting upcoming leadership conferences, and sharing advice that administrators can use to improve the efficacy of their organization."Indeed, one of my hoped-for audiences is current and future health care administrators, and I am honored to be included. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - November 19, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Patty Skolnik adds "author" to her credentials
This article summarizes patient safety curricular content as it occurred (or did not occur) in medical education circles in the past (pre-1990s), and present. It also makes some recommendations for the future of medical education curricula in the area of patient safety, using a framework for the development of expertise using the Dreyfus educational model. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - November 19, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Schwartz Center brings all together again
Petra Langer reminds us of an event that has become a mainstay of the New England healthcare community. This may be one of the few places where the intensely competitive actors in the region join forces in total unanimity!More than 150 doctors, nurses and other hospital staff who treated those injured in the Boston Marathon bombings will be honored at the 18th annual Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner on Thursday, November 21, at the Boston Convention Center. Adrianne Haslet-Davis, a professional dance instructor who lost her lower leg in the bombings, will speak at the event beginning at 7pm. More t...
Source: Running a hospital - November 18, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
A modest proposal
I’m going to offer an idea that is so outrageous it might actually have merit. This concerns the Boston area health care market, but my readers from other regions might also find it of interest.There are two health care entities in Massachusetts that face uncertain futures. One is Tufts Medical Center, a relatively small but highly respected academic medical center with a notable history, going all the way back to its antecedent’s founding by Paul Revere and other patriots. The other is Steward Health Care, a chain of hospitals purchased from the Boston Archdiocese several years ago by a private equity comp...
Source: Running a hospital - November 17, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
A normal day at the NHS
Those of us in the US who have been overwhelmed lately by overly excited health care stories in the media look fondly across the Pond. We are confident that we can find a much calmer discourse about these issues in the UK. After all, a single payer system, well established, and held in fond regard by the populace can’t be very controversial. Well maybe. Here’s a synopsis of one day’s news coverage about the NHS from The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Make sure you read all the way to the last one. My head is spinning.•A hospital trust whose staff were allegedly forced to alter waiting times...
Source: Running a hospital - November 17, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
What's your QI IQ?
Here's an excellent program for residents and attending physicians in the New York City area who are interested in enhancing their quality improvement skills. It is offered jointly by CIR/SEIU Healthcare.A summary:This is a great educational opportunity for residents and attendings who are interested in taking their QI project to the next level and plan for publishing their work. Publication of a manuscript is a process that starts when you think of a QI topic, and requires thoughtful planning and execution. You will learn from leaders and national experts in the field of QI how to plan, execute and publish. Int...
Source: Running a hospital - November 16, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Sportsmanship supreme
You don't have to be a soccer fan to enjoy this video clip. Summary:Al Nahdha's goalkeeper Taisir Al Antaif was about to make a clearance early in the second half with the score still at 2-2 but noticed that his shoelace had come undone, and was clearly nervous about his boot coming off as he kicked.The opposing striker bearing down on him, a Brazilian by the name of Jobson, noticed what was going on - but instead of trying to take advantage, he ran up to his opponent and did his shoelace for him.Al Antaif slapped his new friend on the back as thanks, and gave him a high five afterwards before getting on with the...
Source: Running a hospital - November 14, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Different priorities
A thought for the day from the world of coaching girls soccer, with thanks to a colleague at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.After a soccer game between two teams of seven-year-old girls:Frustrated coach: Your heads were just not in the game! Where were they?Player: I was thinking about princesses and puppies. (Source: Running a hospital)
Source: Running a hospital - November 14, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Northwestern Medicine learns from patients and families
I had the pleasure of making a presentation at a leadership meeting at Northwestern Medicine today. Afterwards, while sitting through some other business sessions of the team, I saw this simple graphic representation. It is emblematic of the types of changes that can occur when patients and families help set a health system's priorities. Northwestern has convened a patient-family advisory council and was discussing with them the various metrics the hospital uses to portray progress on several clinical fronts. The PFAC members made a persuasive case that the evaluative framework employed by the health syst...
Source: Running a hospital - November 14, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Chutzpah
The classic definition of chutzpah is provided by the man who kills his parents and then pleads for mercy from the sentencing judge on the grounds of being an orphan.Now, we have a story by Julie Donnelly in the Boston Business Journal about the CEO of a hospital system who bemoans the fact that "any savings from layoffs in the health care industry are constrained by labor agreements that often force hospitals to lay off the youngest, cheapest workers."Let's recall that it was this CEO who aceded to a neutrality agreement to facilitate the ability of the SEIU to organize his hospital system back in 2009 and who then was ...
Source: Running a hospital - November 13, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
The word from Mt. Sinai
There’s some good stuff happening at Mt. Sinai Hospital in downtown Toronto, and I thought I’d take a moment to share examples with you. I was there because the folks at the hospital had invited me to give grand rounds and also to participate in some sessions with senior leadership and with their quality improvement champions. As is often the case, I learned more than I imparted, and I walked away impressed with the organization’s commitment to quality and safety improvement, transparency, and staff engagement.Here’s one example. While I had heard about the concept of a patient navigator before today, including at ...
Source: Running a hospital - November 13, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
Southlake offers positive change
I shared a delightful day with people from Southlake Regional Health Centre, in Newmarket, Ontario. I found a (large) community hospital that has dramatically updated its service lines over the past few years and has also made real efforts to improve quality and safety. You could see signs of staff engagement throughout the hospital, including this visual reminder regarding daily safety huddles.I include, for lighter review, a video with a key aspect of the automated wayfinding system the hospital has installed, clearly delineating the path to the Tim Hortons coffee shop! (It also leads people to the various cl...
Source: Running a hospital - November 12, 2013 Category: Health Managers Source Type: blogs
